An upside-down world is the concern of this week's Newsmax Rising Bestsellers.
One describes the morality of Israel's war with Gaza, despite a widely held perception and rhetoric to the contrary, while another homes on the chaotic world of a U.S. Marine in war, where "Gunfighters Rule."
Still another discusses the "ideological lie" of the woke left, and a final nonfiction offering posits that if humanity is going to thrive, it needs to disavow one of the notions of wokeism — the concept of "toxic masculinity."
For novel enthusiasts, there is the latest from a longtime bestselling author.
"Fight or Flight," by Fern Michaels (Kensington)
After Katherine Winston loses a close friend at the Boston Marathon bombing, she retreats to a mountaintop home and leads a reclusive life as a bestselling writer. Katherine seldom ventures out, orders food and other necessities online, and has only her two dogs for companionship. Eventually, she becomes wary and fearful when she senses that someone is watching her. Only by leaving the security of her home can Katherine hope to find the answers she needs and the ability to trust others again. "This is a well-written, entertaining romantic suspense novel," wrote Tracey in her GoodReads review. "It has a likable female protagonist, engaging secondary characters, mystery, suspense, an interesting premise, a beautiful setting, and a satisfying conclusion." [Fiction]
"Beyond Proportionality: Israel's Just War in Gaza," by Thane Rosenbaum (Wicked Son)
Author, law professor and frequent Newsmax TV contributor Thane Rosenbaum asks the reader to imagine a war with an enemy where combatants are indistinguishable from noncombatants, where schools, hospitals, and places of worship double as weapons depots and military command and communication centers, and where the enemy attacks civilian populations more than military targets. That's the enemy Israel is facing in its war against Gaza terrorists, who care nothing about war crimes or rules of engagement. "Thane Rosenbaum's new book is a breath of fresh air amid the stench of antisemitic slander perpetrated by Jew-hating mobs," wrote Alan Zeitlin for the Algemeiner. "Rosenbaum's book is a crucial read at this time, and while many who need to read it may not, if at least some can, it will be extremely worthwhile in the asymmetrical battle Israel and Jews face against blood libels and lies geared to turning the world into Jew haters." [Nonfiction]
"Gunfighters Rule!" by William Dunn (Gatekeeper Press)
This is the memoir of a young boy with one goal in life — to become a U.S. Marine. And not just any Marine, but a Marine pilot. The death of his father only cemented that desire.
He had to overcome one adversity after another to realize that dream, and, once in the Corps, he continued to face challenges throughout his decades of service. "Gunfighters Rule!" is a story about resilience and determination, and ultimately triumph. "Fortitude and Integrity were just two words that came to mind when reading this book," said Linda for Amazon. "The author's absolute dedication to his Marines and country is without question. This captivating account of the author's life and experiences was so engrossing that it was hard to put down. I laughed, I cried, and I really felt like I was part of the story!" [Nonfiction]
"The Persistence of the Ideological Lie: The Totalitarian Impulse Then and Now," by Daniel J. Mahoney (Encounter Books)
This book chronicles each manifestation of what Russian author and dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn called the ideological lie. The big lie initiated the 20th century's Marxism-Leninism, followed by national socialism, progressive democracy, and the new left, to finally result in the 21st century's new woke. No matter what the era or the term, the process is straight out of author George Orwell's "1984," where good is termed evil, and evil labeled good. "After 1989, as the world sought to put to rest the ideological catastrophe of the 20th century, Dan Mahoney never stopped warning us, using his masterful command of political theory, that the nihilistic temptations of the 20th century are permanent features of human life," wrote Joshua Mitchell of Georgetown University's Department of Government. "Now that the new tyranny of identity politics is upon us, we can do no better than listen intently to one of America's most important political thinkers for guidance." [Nonfiction]
"Real Men Don't Go Woke: The Book They Would Not Publish. The Truth That Must Be Told," by Gilda Carle (Gatekeeper Press)
Gilda Carle argues that there's nothing toxic about masculinity. However, because of today's preaching to the contrary by the woke left, men — real men — are becoming an endangered species. Men are declining psychologically and even physically, with plummeting testosterone levels detected in today's crop of young men. She uses the wisdom of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" as inspiration to prompt men to reclaim their identity, their manhood, and, with it, their traditional, rightful place in society. "This book is so important for men and women to read," wrote Ω in her Amazon review. "Dr. Carle has conducted in depth research on this topic which is validated through relevant facts and data. Yet, the author's humor and 'Gilda-grams' are spread throughout the book to offer real insight and a personal perspective on this very serious topic. It's a must read!" [Nonfiction]